Reality Check - 2010-11 WKCE Scores

Last week, school district "Key Communicators" received via e-mail a Spin-o-gram announcing that,
"WKCE Results Well Above the State Averages"
Link to SPASD data on DPI site

Stating the obvious?

For those of you not on the coveted list, we didn't see this on the SPASD website, so we offer the key info at right.

How do we address this...let us count the ways.

Let's start with the "Well Above State Averages" claim
Our analysis? Where on earth did they pull that from? Did they even LOOK at the data? We did. Our first question is: "What exactly constitutes 'Well Above'?" We're thinking 20 or more percentage points. As in state average is 70%, Sun Prairie score is 90%. But maybe we're off base. Let's look at the numbers.

The way we see it, the numbers may not warrant the claim made. Only grade 10 students average a double digit (and barely) lead over the state average. Grades 4 and 8 average scores are only 4 and 5 percentage points higher than state averages. Not exactly what we'd call "well above". In fact, if you compare the 2010 data to 2009 results, it sure looks like the statewide average is gaining on us. But that's not something the district would ever shout from the mountaintops, now is it. We actually dug a little deeper and looked at comparisons over the past 5 years. district wide, our scores have consistently averaged only 3.8% to 5.1% better than the state averages. Consequently, we think it's a safer bet to declare that our scores are well above those of Madison...or Marshall...or Beloit. Saying that Sun Prairie scores are 'well above' state averages is kinda like saying that the Red Sox will win more games than the Brewers. It's kinda over-stating the obvious.

Comparing Sun Prairie to Other Dane Co Districts

Last year, Sun Prairie fared pretty well, ranking 7th overall in Dane Co. using our averaging system (averaging ranks in each of the 5 subject areas across grades 4, 8, and 10). This year, however, we slipped 5 spots to the #12 (out of 17) spot. We may be getting better, but it would seem that the other districts are getting better-ER. Our arch-nemesis, Middleton, remained steady in the #3 slot.
Grade 10, in fact, slipped most. Last year, 10th graders ranked 2nd in Dane Co. across all 5 subject areas. This year: 9th.
Looking at things a little differently, we can combine ranks of Grade 4,8, and 10 and review how Sun Prairie sits in terms of each of the 5 WKCE subject areas. From this angle, only in Social studies do we rank in the upper half--and just barely at #8. Our friends in Waunakee, McFarland, and Middleton take the #2,3,and 4 ranks. Like that proverbial mouse that churned the cream into butter and climbed its way out, little old Belleville rises to the top!

Newbie on the Block - 1st Wisconsin Virtual Academy Results
NOTE: We could not find this data on the DPI site. We used data presented by the Wisconsin State Journal.
Dane Co. Language Arts, Science Social studies scores
Dane Co. Reading & Math scores
This marks the first year that we include the Wisconsin Virtual Academy (WIVA)--which a number of Sun Prairie students attend-- in the Dane Co. ranks. The results are quite interesting. Overall, depending on whether you look at and average of all subjects across th3 3 grades, or whether you look at an average of all 3 grades across 5 subjects, "WIVA" ranks either 9th or 10th. Basically, middle of the pack, nothing to write home about.
WIVA fared pretty well in Reading, Language Arts, and Social Studies...not so good in Math and Science. In fact, the WIVA ranked last among Dane Co. districts in math at the grade 10 level, tieing with Madison at 75% proficient or advanced.
In Language Arts, 95% of 4th graders at the WIVA scored proficient or advanced, 84% of 8th graders, but only 55% of 10th graders.

Apples & Apples Time - Comparing Sun Prairie to Similar Sized School Districts

Now that we know how well we stack up against Dane Co, school districts, it's time to take a look at how we rate against schools our own size. We looked at the 20 districts closest in size--the 10 that are just larger, and the 10 that are just smaller.

Last year, Sun Prairie ranked 5th overall (tieing with Wauwautosa). Across all 5 subject areas, SPASD ranked 4th for grade 10, 7th for grade 8, and 9th for grade 4. Looking at grade 10 only, last year SP ranked 6th in Reading, 3rd in Math, 3rd in Language Arts, 6th in Science, and 3rd in social studies.

This year, unfortunately, Sun Prairie slides to either 9th or 11th (out of 21), depending on how you look at the results. Either way, that's just middle of the pack, and a fairly significant decline from last year.

Conclusions
That's a lot of data...we know. But take some time to let it sink in. We'll be looking at this from some other angles, but wanted you at least to get the full picture...not just the pretty "snapshots" offered by the district.
From our perspective, Sun Prairie may be improving, but all the other districts are improving as well...and at a faster pace than we are. Sure, a grade of "B" is great...but how does it look when everyone else is getting "B+" or better?

"Hungry" Reader Writes About the Expanding Budget Wasteline

OK...pun most definitely intended. A reader identified as "the Thin Man" offers the following take on the ever expanding budget and the commenter who feels that "just forgoing 2 pizzas a month" is worth the price.


I'm finally catching up on my "light "reading and I thought I'd comment on the young woman's remarks about forgoing a couple of pizza's. I've lived here long enough to tell her that...

• I had to forgo four large pizzas a month when we built the two new middle schools,
• then I had to forgo another large pizza when we built Horizon,
• then I had to forgo another large pizza when we built Creekside,
• Now I'm forgoing four large pizzas for the new High School,and
• I'm forgoing two large pizzas for the upgrade of the Upper Middle School,and
• I gave up my bread sticks for the Pool.

As you can see I'm starting to get pretty damn hungry so I don't need to sacrifice any more "FOR THE CHILDREN." I guess if anyone could convince me that our children are getting a better education for all my pizzas I could live with our spending, but I guarantee you that the quality of education has gone down in the last ten years yet we continue to throw more money at it. Our test scores are not comparable to other districts our size and we are a laughing stock among Dane County schools. At least my weight is down but my blood pressure is off the charts.

WAKE UP SUN PRAIRIE !!!!!

Sincerely,
the Thin Man

SP-EYE Note: We couldn't agree more. We've become a renowned sports district, but we're growing very few scholars and far between. We're hungry too. Maybe we can live without pizza and bread sticks, but when we lose our Cinna Stix, THAT is the last straw. We're mad as hell. Throw open your windows, Sun Prairians and scream at the top of your lungs, "We're mad as hell...and we're not gonna take it anymore". Then come to a budget hearing...and tell the school board.

No April Fool: We have GOOD News!

Statewide WKCE scores were released this week. Everyone is scrambling to put their best feet forward. Tim Culver has donned his rose colored lenses and is busy as a beaver moving to point out everything that is good about the scores. As with everything else, the not-so-good news is not discussed (well except on this site that is). That's why, when we offer good news, you can take it to the bank.

Apples to Pineapples

How Sun Prairie Compares to Dane County school districts.
Sun Prairie High School (Grade 10) moves up to #2 in Dane County! We slide a bit down to #7 of 16 when grades 4, 8, and 10 are combined, however. While we get a little concerned that the lower grades appear to be slipping, we are excited that the high school is performing so well.

While even Language Arts (!!!) have improved such that 80% are either proficient or advanced, we'd still like to see scores move out of the 80's and into the 90's.





Apples to Apples
How Sun Prairie Compares to similar sized districts.
Here's an analysis you won't see from the district. If you look at ONLY Dane County, there are a number of very small districts. Com paring Sun Prairie to these districts is like comparing apples to pineapples. So SP-EYE wants to know how we stack up against districts of similar size. Sure...Culver will wax philosophically about how we can't compare to these other districts because they don't reflect the same conditions or demographics. Pshaw! You simply cannot compare a district of over 6,000 kids to ones with less than 1,000. Similarly, you can't compare Madison at 24,000+ to SPASD.

So we compared the 10 districts that are just smaller than SPASD and the 10 that are just larger than SPASD.

Surprise! Sun Prairie ranks 4th out of 21 at Grade 10. District-wide, we still rank in the upper one-third at #5 (tie with Wauwatosa). Now that's something to be excited about.

District Perpective
Tim Culver sent this e-mail to District "Key Communicators" this past week. We could not find it on the web site, so we'll just re-print it here.
District E-News to Key Communicators

The 2009 Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exam (WKCE) results were announced today and again reveal strong academic achievement for students in the Sun Prairie Area School District. Annually, all school districts in the State of Wisconsin administer the WKCE to students in grades 3-8 and grade 10. The tests are administered in November of each year. Individual student results are mailed home early in March and the State of Wisconsin embargoes the release of school, district, and state
summary data in the spring. This year that release date is today, April 7, 2010.

This past November, Sun Prairie administered the WKCE to over 3,300 students in grades 3-8 and grade 10. Students in grades 3-8 and 10 were assessed in reading and math. Students in grades 4, 8, and 10 were also assessed in language arts, science, social studies, and writing.

Even as the student demographics change in the Sun Prairie Area School District, our students continue to perform well above the state averages at all grade levels and in all subjects. Combining all grade levels, 87% of Sun Prairie students are proficient or advanced in reading and 84% are proficient or advanced in math. A great deal of effort will be spent in analyzing these and other assessment data in the months to come. WKCE is just one indicator and a “snapshot in time” of student
achievement.

Attached, you will find additional information and the breakdown of 2009 state, district, and school results.

For further information please contact District Administrator Tim Culver at 834-6502 or Instructional Program Manager of Assessment and Accountability Kris Mueller at 834-6531.

SP-EYE's past Reviews
SP-EYE on 2008-09 WKCE results

SP-EYE on 2007-08 WKCE results

See for yourself the data on DPI's site